National Business Plan Competition at Morehouse College

I am so pleased to learn over the last few weeks that our young people and our universities are stepping up to become producers in the technology arena. First we learn of the two students at Spelman.

Then we learn of Veda Rogers in the Silicon Valley. It just keeps getting better. Recently, I heard from Guy Madison of Morehouse College’s Entrepreneurship Center with some very exciting news.

Morehouse College is hosting a National Business Plan competition. The competition is focused on students submitting smart phone application ideas and they want to make sure all students get engaged.

Guy is the Program Manager of the Morehouse College Entrepreneurship Center (MCEC).  He told me that they would like to see students submit ideas so we can help them take part in the wealth creation of this newly developed industry. That is exactly what needs to happen!  We need to get our students thinking and illustrating their creativity in the high tech industry.  And one of our greatest institutions is leading the way.

He also told me that they were not many submissions from Texas or California. The competition is not just for business it is for all disciplines and they welcome all ideas. At the time I spoke to Mr. Madison he informed me that they do not have any submissions from California and I he was sure that there are students that would appreciate the opportunity to participate.

Also Morehouse will pick up the expenses to come to Atlanta if a student makes it to the finals of the competition. If you know of any students please share this information with them. Technical creation of the actual working application is not required. They are looking for innovative ideas for a smartphone application.

For details and to submit your business plans electronically you can visit the center’s website at http://www.mcecenter.com/ or by calling 404-962-9865. The center is also on Facebook at www.mcecenter.com/facebook

You can also reach Mr. Madison via email at gmadison@mcecenter.com.

Microsoft Bliink 2011 Web Design Competition

The Microsoft Bliink 2011 Web Design Competition will be open for student registration beginning Jan. 5, 2011. The site with all of the specific details for each contest will be ready fairly soon, but for now you can use this time to make sure that participating teachers and students receive software free of charge and to point them to the many free teaching and learning resources at Expression For Educators. Also, teachers are invited to attend free online demonstrations sessions where they can ask questions about Bliink and Expression.

Bliink is open to students ages 13-19 participating in teams of two to four. Students build a website that communicates their vision of the future and may submit projects created in or out of class. Contest registration begins Jan. 5, 2011. Submission deadline dates in early March vary by state. Inquire about receiving Expression Studio software free of charge for your school. Students can download Expression Studio free for their personal PCs at DreamSpark.

New Web Academy Classes added for 2011

The Web Academy adds new classes for 2011.  You can learn more about the new course offerings here.

Support African American Business and Help Your Child with Multiplication Skills

This week I was made aware of another African American woman who has created a mobile application. As the folks at McDonalds like to say: “I’m lovin it”. African Americans need to get involved with these technologies and play in this space and sisters are doing it for themselves, as they say.

Last week I wrote about the two sisters at Spelman who won the grand prize in the 2010 ATandT Big Mobile on Campus Challenge for creating a next-generation application highlighting the culture of HBCUs. This week I bring you Veda Rogers. Veda has developed an educational game for the Android platform called Multiple Madness. You can learn more about the application here.

These ladies represent a broad spectrum in terms of experience, highlighting the enormous opportunity that exists in the mobile software development field. In contrast to the two Spelman students, Mrs. Rogers is a veteran of the software development industry with over 20 years experience in the Silicon Valley.
She has a background in software development and has worked for Fortune 500 companies, however, prior to creating Multiple Madness she did not have any previous experience writing programs for the Android platform.

Veda told me that she made the decision early in the development process to keep the app simple. It took her 3 months to develop the application working part-time in the evenings and on weekends. Multiple Madness is available on the Android Market and its cost $.99.

It is a simple math game that can be used by adults and children who wish to test their multiplication skills. It is designed to test your knowledge of multiplication. Veda is making moves in this industry. She informed me that she is currently working on other mobile apps and she also shared that she is concerned about the lack of African Americans taking advantage of the opportunities that these technologies provide. Ditto!

Not only is Mrs. Rogers a technologist but she has recently thrown her hat into the entrepreneurial area. She has created a mobile business that offers Android training, mobile application management, and mobile application development.

If you are considering learning these very lucrative skills and you live in the Silicon Valley area you should contact Veda. Not only is she deeply concerned with the lack of African Americans playing in the space, but she has decided to do something about it.

I like it Veda. Keep up the good work!